The morning in the Land of Storms and Fire was unlike any Eren and Leylin had ever known. The sky was overcast with dark clouds, lightning striking the distant mountains, while plumes of smoke and lava rose from nearby volcanic vents, filling the air with a heavy heat.
In the heart of this place, the three Guardians stood watching Eren and Leylin as they prepared for their first true test in this world.
The eldest Guardian spoke, his voice quiet but echoing the howling wind. "Today you will test whether you are worthy of the power of fire and wind here, or whether the ash will swallow you up before you even begin."
Eren stood still, his hair whipping in the heavy winds that smelled of brimstone and lightning, while Leylin raised her hand. A small golden flame ignited in her palm, flickering anxiously against the majesty of the surrounding volcanic fire.
The middle Guardian pointed to the volcanic field ahead of them, where swirling volcanic fire formed amidst a wind laden with lightning.
To learn to control fire here, you must step into the heart of the volcanic flames and melt into your own. Otherwise, they will consume you.
He then looked at Eren and said, "As for you, you must face the winds of lightning. If you don't tame them, they will tear you apart from the inside."
Eren and Leylin exchanged a silent glance before each nodded resolutely, and the trial began.
Leylin stepped into the ring of volcanic fire, where the searing heat scorched her and she nearly fell. But she held her ground and closed her eyes, focusing on the pulsing fire within her. She felt the volcanic fire resist her, screaming, trying to control her inner fire, but she remembered all those lost to the Shadows, and all those she had promised to protect.
I will not let you consume my fire. I will make you a part of it.
Leylin screamed into the fire, the golden flames radiating from her body and merging with the volcanic fire, transforming the dark red flames around her into a reddish-gold glow that swirled around her without burning her.
On the other side, Eren faced the lightning winds swirling through the air. Lightning flashed through the black clouds before striking his body. He felt pain pierce his bones with each bolt, as if trying to tear him apart from within.
But amidst the pain, Eren felt the winds pulse within him, as if they were telling him that they were not his enemy, but his own strength. He opened his hands to the winds, allowing them to enter his chest, accepting the next bolt without resistance.
With the lightning bolt, Eren saw the world clearly for a moment, as if the winds had become part of his very blood, granting him strength and stability.
The test ended, and Leylin stood in the middle of the glowing ring of fire, now calm and obedient, while Eren opened his hands as the lightning winds swirled around him, not harming him, but protecting him. The third Guardian said, watching the fire and winds submit to them:
Now, you are ready for the next step. The fire you carry is no longer ordinary fire; it is part of the original volcanic fire. And the winds with you are no longer just a breeze; they carry the echo of ancient lightning.
Eren looked at Leylin, their eyes filled with the same determination and will. They knew the road ahead was long, and that the Ashes were far from finished, but they were no bigger than them.
The Guardians stood silent for a moment before the Elder Guardian opened the way to a valley of burning lava below. He said:
To take your true place in this land, you must cross the valley of fire and lightning, where your first test against the Ancient Ashes awaits.
Leylin looked at the fire in her hand, feeling it pulsate with its own pulse, while Eren felt the winds around him no longer silent, singing the song of the coming war.
Together, they took a deep breath and began to descend towards the valley, where their real battle against the incoming ash would begin.